Go 25 miles on electric power in your Prius with a Plug In Conversions conversion kit
The Plug-In Conversions Corporation (PICC), founded by Kim Adelman, was started 19 months ago in order to sell conversion kits to that gave a Prius a plug. PICC announced this week that the battery company Gold Peak Industries North America has acquired an equity stake in PICC and will give the fledgling company a broader reach. The new team will move to offer conversion kits wherever Gold Peak batteries are sold. PICC will offer kits for vehicles that are not called the Prius, as well. The press release talks about "other hybrids made by Toyota and those sold by Ford and GM." The plan is to have 10 new installers signed up in 2009.
The first PHEV Prius with Gold Peak Batteries will be on display at the 2009 San Diego International Auto Show that starts on New Year's Eve. This $12,500 conversion kit swaps out Toyota's standard 1.3kWh NiMH battery pack with a 6.1kWh pack and allows the car can go 25 miles on electric power. A little over a year ago, Adelman was talking about an 8-mile range from his $8,000 plug-in Prius conversion kits. We spoke with him at EVS23 about his Nilar nickel-metal hydride packs and other expensive kits.
[Source: Plug In Conversions]
PRESS RELEASE:
Battery Giant Gold Peak Takes Equity Stake in Plug In Conversions Corp.
First Plug-In Prius With Gold Peak Batteries On Display at SD International Auto Show
POWAY, CA-Gold Peak Industries North America, a subsidiary of GP Batteries International, has acquired an equity stake in Plug In Conversions Corp. (PICC), which positions the latter to sell its plug-in Toyota Prius conversion kits worldwide and produce kits for hybrids made by other manufacturers.
Under the new strategic partnership, PICC will first expand its U.S. network of certified installers, the auto dealerships or mechanics using the Nickel Metal Hydride battery kits to convert Priuses into plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The 19-month-old start-up, based near San Diego, plans to add up to 10 new installers in 2009.
PICC will then begin to sell the kits wherever GP Batteries, the world's largest re-chargeable battery maker outside of Japan, sells its products. In collaboration with the battery conglomerate's engineers, PICC also plans to make conversion kits for other hybrids made by Toyota and those sold by Ford and GM. These will also supply an international market.
"My motivation has always been to protect the planet and our new relationship with Gold Peak will enable us to make a significant difference," said Kim Adelman, PICC founder and president. "We regularly get calls from dealers and others all over the world wanting to become installers, so demand is there. Now we can begin to fulfill it."
With PICC's system, a 2004 or newer Prius can be driven up to 25 miles on batteries alone with an average fuel economy of 100 miles per gallon, increasing efficiency while reducing emissions. The company will display its first Prius outfitted with GP Batteries at the San Diego International Auto Show, Dec. 31 to Jan. 4, and take orders for kits.
For 18 years, Gold Peak has been manufacturing NiMH batteries which power hundreds of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and hybrids on the road today. These include the Solectria Force, Vectrix motor scooters, and hybrid busses in China and the Netherlands.
Using a proprietary Gold Peak pack, PICC proved that it could successfully integrate a battery management system with the Prius computer system, a highly complex challenge, said Don Buckley, President and CEO of Gold Peak Industries North America in San Diego.
"This integration first and foremost gives the vehicle the best level of safety," Buckley said. "It also delivers the ability to maximize performance and the opportunity to monitor, regulate and protect the vehicle's factory and battery components. We are confident of a highly productive relationship with Kim Adelman and Plug In Conversions Corp."
Slumping new-car sales, a tightened credit market and softening prices for used Priuses all bode well for the new alliance, said Dr. Andy Frank, CTO and founder of Efficient Drivetrains Inc.
"More importantly, it will help to get these cars on the road in bigger numbers," said Frank, known as the father of the modern PHEV. "Until the major automakers begin to mass produce these cars, we must retrofit the existing fleet to make a meaningful impact on global warming and increase fuel efficiency."
PICC's conversion kit, which replaces Toyota's 1.3kWh NiMH battery pack with a 6.1kWh pack, sells for $12,500, including installation, which can be done in less than a day. The battery pack, which can be charged from any 120-volt wall outlet, comes with a three-year warranty.
The new partnership will benefit both parties as well as consumers, said Carolyn Coquillette, owner of San Francisco's popular Luscious Garage, which has installed 30 conversion kits in the past year.
"Gold Peak is wise to join the plug-in effort and Plug In Conversions gives GP a great venue to prove their batteries in an automotive context," Coquillette said. "From what I understand, the kits will have exceptional EV-only range. They will compete on performance and it means more kits will be readily available."
Other short term plans under the new alliance call for development of kits with lithium-ion batteries, which Gold Peak also manufacturers, crash testing of PICC-converted cars, and emissions testing, to begin in February at Argonne National Laboratory, for certification by the California Air Resources Board. PICC has obtained air board experimental certification.
ABOUT PLUG IN CONVERSIONS CORP:
Plug In Conversions Corp., based in Poway, CA, designs, develops and markets kits that allow hybrid owners to convert their cars to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The company was founded in May 2007 to help Toyota Prius owners convert their cars. Its primary focus is to provide and install complete conversion kits at affordable prices with same-day installation. Information: www.pluginconversions.com.
ABOUT GOLD PEAK BATTERIES INDUSTRIES NORTH AMERICA:
GP Batteries, the parent of Gold Peak Industries, North America, is one of the world's major suppliers of primary and rechargeable batteries. It is the largest consumer battery manufacturer in China and the world's largest manufacturer of Nickel Metal Hydride batteries. It supplies an extensive range of battery products to original equipment manufacturers, leading battery companies as well as consumer retail markets. It is traded on the Singapore exchange. Information: www.gpina.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brn 9:51AM (12/22/2008)
What the maximum speed on a Prius, while in electric drive? It sure isn't 70mph. These things need to include an mph rating or get hit with some kind of truth-in-advertising penalty.
These conversions are useless.
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Phil L. 1:16PM (12/22/2008)
The Prius conversion will stay in EV-only mode at speeds under 34 mph, according to the PICC FAQ:
http://www.pluginconversions.com/faq.html
So PICC isn't hiding anything. Does this conversion make sense? It depends on your specific situation and driving style. Personally, 25 miles at sub-34 mph speeds isn't worth $12.5k (let alone $12.5k plus the cost of a 2004+ Prius).
Dan 1:53PM (12/22/2008)
They are not useless. Clearly you dont drive a Prius and therefore dont know how it works. At low speeds it can be in electric only at high speeds its in blended mode... still using electric as it can and WITH A BIGGER BATTERY PACK IT DOES SO MUCH MORE. It doesnt matter if you are solely in electric mode or not, you still use the electric motor/energy, displacing fuel use and increasing mileage. For those who dont know maybe it sounds confusing, but its really not. Current Prius can be in electric mode 34mph and under. Above that ICE will turn on and be used as needed, but still electric will be used as needed and energy supply is there.... and that's where having a bigger pack still even above ev only range still makes a difference.
Efried 1:53PM (12/22/2008)
Hej, this is only mildly innovative. Using LiFePO4 batteries instead would be really innovative and help the industry finding out if PHEV is feasible!
LiFePO4 does not loose power charging and discharging and over time and may reduce weight at a given autonomy or generate higher autonomy at the same battery weight.
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Dan 2:33PM (12/22/2008)
This conversion is about significantly improving mpg, while using tried and tested tech/batteries. We know NiMH batteries we'd dont have nearly as much info/testing for Li-ION batts. We have 10 years of using NiMH on the road in hybrids and ev's, we just started this year using Li-ION on the road. Now I hope Li-ION will be great for future use, but for doing something immediate this is a good solution. (fyi: I am on the wait list for this conversion) I expect in Feb to be able to say it works great.
re: Phil L. said...
http://www.pluginconversions.com/faq.html
So PICC isn't hiding anything. Does this conversion make sense? It depends on your specific situation and driving style. Personally, 25 miles at sub-34 mph speeds isn't worth $12.5k (let alone $12.5k plus the cost of a 2004+ Prius)
Yes, it depends on situation/style (style... your not driving like a teenager) By my numbers it could be, esp. if you drive every day to work 15~25 mi. one way, even more so if they could plug in at work.
Where I am at, 23+ miles into city and 23+ back, (25 EV is approx 50 in blended PHEV miles) at approx. double the mpg I currently get seems to be worth it esp. if you have any enviromental concerns.
Supersoul 6:00PM (12/22/2008)
A conversion kit that costs more than a new subcompact car?
File this in the "More Money Than Brains" folder.
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Anon 7:01PM (12/22/2008)
What about the Hymotion conversion?
How do those two compare?
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Chris M 6:13PM (12/30/2008)
The Hymotion conversion costs $10,000, ($2,000 less) and stores about 8 Kwh (almost 2Kwh more). Hymotion is using a higher energy density LiIon battery that weighs less and takes up less space.
The only possible advantage for the PICC conversion is the known long life of the NiMH batteries.
Maxton 4:45PM (12/30/2008)
$12,500.00 to drive 25 miles per charge not including the car? What else will the granola loons think up?
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